Israel tightens grip on Palestinian towns

Three Palestinians were killed today as Israeli tanks moved deeper into West Bank towns, tightening their grip on biblical Bethlehem and five other towns in the widest operation against the Palestinians in years.

Three Palestinians were killed today as Israeli tanks moved deeper into West Bank towns, tightening their grip on Bethlehem and five other towns in the widest operation against the Palestinians in years.

The three-day-old assault, retaliation for the assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister by a radical PLO faction, drew harsh international criticism and set off disagreements within Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s coalition government.